Box-machine.



Patented Mar. ll, I902.

No. 695,30I.

c. w. GAY.

BOX MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 6, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 695,30l; Patented Mar. ll, I902.

C. W. ,GAY.

BOX'NIAGHINE.-

(Application filed Sept/6, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

c0. mm'ouma, WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 695,301. Patented Mar. H, I902.

C. W. GAY.

REX MACHINE.

(Aiiplimiun filed Sept. 8. 1001, (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

THE nonms PETERS 50.. PHoYo-L|THo,\vAsHma'roN, n. c.

No. 695,30l. "Patented Mar. ll, I902.

c. w. GAY.

BOX MACHINE.

(Application and Sept. 6. 1901. (NovModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Mar. H, I902.

m w I M M Q s. m, W {II/I w M m Ewe n W c m I Q No. 695,30l.

lUTNliTFD States Patent FFlCE.

CI'IAUNCEY \V. GAY, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

Box-Macrame.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,301, dated March 11, 1902.

{ipplication filed September 6,1901I Serial No. 74,534. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it 71mg concern:

Be it known that I, OHAUNCEY \V. GAY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of West Springfield, in the county of I-Iampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Machines, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making rectangular. tubular.

tened tube, and for pressing or creasing such collapsed tube along what becomes the diagonally opposite corners of the tubular case; for causing by a twisting action of the long so-formed and half pressed or creased continuous tube the subjection thereof in a proper manner to means for pressing or creasing the other two corners of the tube which are diagonally opposite each other; for printing the case on one or more or all its sides, and for severing the printed tubes into boxcase lengths.

The objects of the invention are to produce a machine for making the tubular shells or box-cases having a very great capacity for production, a capability for making the cases, generally from coarse and low-priced stock, quite nicely and uniformly, for carrying out the printing operations by improved and simplified means, especially so that the printed impression on one or more orall of the sides of the case While still fresh may not be touched and smooched by contact thereon of any portion of the machine thereagainst and so that no freshly-printed portion of the case may by contact with any portion of the machine daub the latter with ink.

Another object is to greatly simplify the machine not only in its general organization, but

in the construction and composition of its instrunientalities for performing the individual functions in the series of shell-making operations and to render the machine practically available for the performance, as may be required in some cases, of certain of the individual operations or combinations thereof, such as the scoring, or the scoring, pasting, andjztube-making, or the printing of the already-completed collapsed tube and the concurrentseveringthereofintoboX-caselengths; and in the carrying out of the objects of the invention as hereinabove indicated the invention consists in an organized machine for the making and printing of the box-cases or tubular shells composed of combinations of instrumentalities, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in the construction and combination of parts composing certain of the instrnmentalities for the performance of individual portions or steps of the box-making operations, as hereinafter described, and specifically pointed outin the claims.

The improved machine is illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation,the proportionate length of the machine as here shown bein g somewhat shortened as compared with the actually built machine for the purpose of maintaining the illustration on a fairly large scale. Fig. 2 is a viewin the nature of a diagram, illustrating by plan the relative locations of the essential mechanisms of the machine and indicating the successive actions it of such essential mechanisms on the continuous supply-strip of cardboard -stock, the framework and supporting parts for the mechanisms being omitted. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the machine as seen at the left-hand end, Fig. 1, on a larger scale. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are cross-sectional views of the blank or supply strip in its successive forms and conditions in the tube-making operations,such sections being made on an enlarged scale and at the transverse lines of intersection indicated by the lines t 4, 5 5, and 6 6, respectively, in Fig. 2. The arrows applied at the sectionlines indicate the direction of View of the parts to be seen beyond the planes of the sections. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View of a completed shell, which is understood as finally, by reason of the elasticity of the semirigid stock from which it is made, assuming approximately the rectangular condition shown by the full lines in said View, while the dotted lines indicate approximately the collapsed condition of the tube preceding the expansion thereof to the proper box-shell form. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the part of the machine on the plane indicated by 8 8, Fig. 1, and an elevation of parts seen in the direction of the arrow beyond said plane of section. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on a longitudinalline of the machine transversely of the axes of the cylindrical parts comprised in the mechanism for printing and severing which is at the extreme right-hand end of the machine. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on a plane transversely of the general length of the machine and coincident or parallel with the axes of the printing-cylinders, said plane section being indicated by line 10 10 on Fig. 9, while on said Fig. 10 the section-line 9 9 indicates the plane of section of the preceding figure. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the printing-cylinders and portions of the severing mechanism coacting therewith. Fig. 12 is aplan View of parts in detail comprised in the severing mechanism. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of parts hereinafter more particularly referred to. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a completed printed box-case shell.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, consisting of a quite long intermediately open bed supported at a conven ient height by legs, and at the rear end of the machine is mounted the roll of the strip-cardboardor other stock from which the tubular cases are to be made, the width of the strip beingequal to the added widths of the four sides of the tube plus the lap or marginal portion which is pasted and stuck to one of the sides. The strip is scored on the four paral lel longitudinal lines 12, 13, 14, and 15, thereby defining the portions of the blank a and b, which make the opposite edges of the tubular cases, and the portions 0 and (Z, which make the opposite sides of thecases, and also the stay section or lap e, which is in the turning operations brought facewise against the opposite marginal portion of the strip and stuck thereto.

Locating the positions of the several mechanisms on the general views, it will be pointed out that the scoring is performed at C 0 the pasting at D, the upturning of the section to be lapped at E. The transformation of the scored strip with one edge overturned, as seen in Fig. 4, to the form of a collapsed tube, as shown 'in Fig. 5, is performed at and between the paired bars at F, whereat the diagonally opposite corners of the fiattened tube are positively creased or pressed by squeezing action, said pair of bars at the location indicated by F standing axially perpendicular to the axes of the scoring and pasting roller devices and to the plane in which the strip is initially brought into the machine. The means for reversely twisting the collapsed who already pressed at two of its diagonally opposite corners,whereby the relatively diagonally opposite two corners are also pressed or creased, is indicated at G, and the combined final printing and severing mechanism is indicated at H, means for the performance of the final printing of the tube and for the cutting of the same off into boxcase lengths being so combined with each other that the one part constitutes the support and carrier for the other and so that thereis otherwise cooperative actions the one in connection with the other, and adjacent the cylindrical devices which perform the re pressing or second creasing operation on the diagonally opposite corners of the tube which had not been creased at the time of reaching such cylindrical devices may be provided printing-surfaces with inking appliances for initially printing the tube on some or more or all of its faces concurrent with the re-pressing and preparatory to the subsequent printing, which maybe in another coloror combination of colors, performed by the final printing-cylinders immediately followed by the cuttingoff operations.

The scorings performed on the lines 12, 13, 14, and 15 are of step shape, as best seen in Fig. 3, and for making the two lines of scoring 12 and 13 upper and lower pairs of peripherally adjacent and peripherally stepshaped and matching rolls 16 16 and 17 17 are adj ustably mounted on cross-shafts l8 and 19 therefor, which shafts are mounted in journal-boxes in the standards 20 20, rising from the opposite sides of the long horizontal frame or bed A.

Suitably forward of the first double pair of step-rimmed scoring-rolls 16 17 are the denble pair of similarly-formed step-rimmed scoring-rolls 22 22 23 23, mounted on upper and lower shafts 24 and 24, the latter rolls, however, being arranged suitably near the central longitudinal line of the strip to impart the scorings 14 and 15 properly distant from each other.

While it has heretofore been proposed in similar machines to have the rolls for making the four scores with V edges and to mount each set of four thereof all on the same shaft, I have found that scoring-wheels of step form are much to be preferred, and in order to have this description of rolls operate to the best advantage and to avoid rupturing or breaking of the stock it is much better to have two pairs of shafts with the scoring-rolls thereon.

As a measure to simplification the roller 26, which applies the paste directly on the upper surface of one of the marginal portions of the strip, is affixed adj ustably on the aforementioned scoring-roll-carrying shaft 24, under which paste-roll 26 for the support of the IIO portion of the strip being pasted is the roll 27, which is adjustably affixed on the other scoring-roll shaft 24.

28 indicates the gum or paste box, in which runs the paste-supplying roll 29, having peripheral contact on the paste-roll 26.

The turning device for the portion 6 at the margin of the strip opposite the marginal portion a, which receives thereon the line of paste, consists of a deflector-plate 30 of the same form as lip-turners employed in various machinery for working cardboard-stock and comprising a horizontal base portion with an upturned portion which merges gradually and incliningly from a right angle to the base, finally to an angle which is sharply acute to the base portion.

The pair of rollers ii are the draft-rollers for the stock, they being geared together, and the lower one thereof has its arbor extended to constitute the driving-shaft a of the machine and is provided with a driving-pulley 38. i

The means for bringing the stock after it has passed through the scoring-rolls from the flat to the tubular condition consists in the pair of slightlyseparated parallel vertical rods located at a suitable distance forwardly beyond the scoring and pasting devices, assisted by the aforesaid lip-turner 30 and a V- shaped deflector m. The line 13 is regarded as the working line, and hence the space between the vertical bars 25 is coincident with the aforementionedlongitudinal working line 13 created by one of the pairs ofscorers 22 23.

In order to bring the stock into the divergent condition shown in Fig. 8, the V-s'haped deflector, mounted at an inclination, as seen in Figs. land 2, is provided between the forward set of scoring-wheels-and the tube-contracting means at F, constituted by said bars 25 25. The said deflector m consists of suitably upwardly and forwardly divergent plates, the adjoined or connected lower ends of which are secured to the horizontal rod or bar m which is vertically adjustable in the slot m formed in the standard m the clamping-nuts m hi being provided on the screw-threaded portion of the bar m for holding it confined in its adjusted position. The deflector on may therefore be bodily elevated and also swung on the said bar m as a center to give it its proper working location in relation to the stock which is being drawn through the machine.

The strip brought in tubular form, as indicated in Fig. 5, through the rods 25 25 is subjected in the passage between them to a degree of creasing action and insures, in addition to the stock being pressed or creased sufficiently sharply on the lines 13 14 corresponding to the diagonally opposite corners of the box-case, the setting of the paste to unite the now overlapped portions to and e, which constitute the one edge Wall of the case. The flattened tube after emerging from between the rods 25 25, through which. it is drawn with considerable tension, is caused to undergo between the said rods 25 and the pair of rollers 44 4.4 a twisting action, wherebythe tube in its passage through and between the said rollers 44 44 shall have become opened up from the flattened condition shown in Fig. 5, becoming again flattened to be re-pressed, but on the edges 12 and 15 corresponding to the other and diagonally opposite corners of the case which had not been previously pressed or creasedin coming through the rod 25. This reversing disposition of the tube is by no means new in this class of machines; but the specific devices which contribute to the results and which tend to simplify the machine are believed to be novel, and it will be perceived that the tube before passing between the pair of horizontal rollers 44 44: pass in succession between the U-shaped guides 72, the flattenin g-guide o, and the gage-guide p. The flattening-guide 0 consists of a horizontal bar 0 as seen in Fig. 13, having ihereabove a rod 0 parallel therewith, the suitably-distant downturned ends of such rod being united to said bar 0 The latter is mounted in its supporting-bracket 0, Fig. 1, so that it may be turned a part way around, the thumb-knob 0 .at its end constituting a convenient means therefor, and the confinement of the device in its adsupport the bar to contact against the latter.

By turning the bar 0 more or less,-so that the line between the latter and the bar 0 is more or less inclined, a proper degree of tension 011 the tube is acquired. The gage p isprovided for the purpose of insuring that the tube will pass in proper line between the pair of rollers 44: 4A to be subjected at the right place to the printing action by the latter, and this gageguide consists of a transverse horizontallysupported bar having the slot 19 therethrough,

the length of which is somewhatlonger than the width of the ordinary flattened tube. Two collars 19 p adapted to slide toward and away from each other and held in their adjustments by the set-screws 1J maintain contacts 011 the opposite edges of the flattened tube, insuring the constraint of the latter in its proper course.

The cylinders a l as may be in addition to re-pressin g rolls to finally and more positively set the paste and crease two of the corners of the flattened tube, also printing-rolls having at their faces electrotypes, stereotypes, or other description of printing or embossing appliances, and in this machine, as here illustrated, both the upper and lowerrolls 4a 44- are indicated as provided with a plurality (three) of segmental electrotypes having inksupplying rollers of a common kind and arrangements for supplying the ink thereto, and the one roller or cylinder serves as the support or platen against which the other works, and thus the re-pressing-rollers perform a succession of printings on the opposite sides of the collapsed tube concurrently with tho rc-pressing and additional thereto,

so that the upper roll may print in one color on the portion of the flattened tube which constitutes one side and one edgeof the boxcase, and the lower roll may print either in the same or another color on the portions of the flattened tube which constitute the other side and-other edge of the case. A succession of similarduplicated printing-rolls may follow those 44 44 for printing in additional colors on the same faces of the flattened tube as printed upon by the said rolls 44 and the final rolls or cylinders 55 55 at the location H in the machine, which are printing-rolls, acting in the same manner as theprintingrolls 44 44 and-having the ink distributing and supplying rolls 56 56-(shown in Figs. 9 and 10) therefor, have combined therewith severing mechanism for cutting off the completed and sectionally-printed tube into boxcase lengths and novel actuating mechanism for the said severing mechanism. The said rolls 55 55 have extending from end to end thereof the deep grooves or kerfs 57, sunk within which are fixed plates 58, the outer edges of which are inclined on straight lines, as seen in Fig. 10, and within the portions of the said deep grooves outwardly beyond the inclined plates are movable plates or blades 59, which as the paired cylinders rotateedgewise match with each other. The edge of the coactin g blade for the other printing-roll is of V shape, its longitudinal apexline being along a plane coincident with the center of the square-edged blade. The movable blades are actuated to retreat so that their severing edges lie within the peripheral surfaces of the printing-rolls constituted by the sectional curved electrotypes carried thereby and so as to outwardly protrude for edgewise biting or severing contact seasonably'after a printed portion of the tube of a length to constitute a match-box casehas been-acted on by the rolling printing-surfaces in advance relatively to the position of the blades, so that the section of the tube to make the box-case becomes printed and protrudes beyond the printing-surfaces before it is finally severed and whereby thereafter it may immediately fall into a receptacle or be taken onto a carrier-apron or common form of rotating table. This capability in this machine of having the severing operation follow the printing and on a transverse line of the printed tube to the rear of the printed portion and in substance on a line at the rear of the position of the curved printing-faces, which at the time of the severing are separating from each other in advance of thesevering-line, is to be emphasized as one of much importance as contributing to the rapid produ ction of a very good quality and more than acceptable kind of printed tubular box cases or shells. The j ournal-shafts of the said final printing-rolls, having combined therewith the severing mechanisms, are fitted for rotation in journal-boxes 60, which are adjustable in vertical ways in the uprights of the framing of the machine. The journal-box for the one end bearing of each of the cylinders 55 is provided with an inwardly-extended hub or boss 62, which is provided with an encircling cam-rib 63, the grade of which has a tendency for thrust of the therewith-engaged blade 59 in a direction longitudinally of the latter, whereby the riding thereof at its inner edge along the inclined plate within the depth of the kerf 57 results in the forcing action by the inclined plate upon the blade to cause it to so move outwardly as to be brought into edgewise contact with the similarly-operated severing-blade of the other roller. The end portions of the severing blades 59 within the edges of the latter which are toward the axis of the cylinder 55 have squared notches 64, the margins of which engage the aforesaid cam rib, the action of which as it turns is to impart thrusts endwise in both directions to each blade. The rotation of the lower cylinder 44 through the gearing 52 drives its companion cylinder 44 in exact time therewith and by the gearing '75 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) the shaft of said lower cylinder 44 causes the driving of the shaft of the lower roll 55, which, by the spurgearing 76, Fig. 10, drives the upper cylinder 55. The springs q, bearing against the outer edges of the blades in an inward direction, maintain the latter always in contactat their inclined inner edges against the inclined outer edges of the coacting inclined fixed plates 58. These springs, as shown in detail in the perspective View and understood as located in duplication at both ends of the cylinder 55, are constructed from sheet metal having the separated legs 66 66, the angularlyturned portion 67, having the slit-s between which is comprised the springtongue 68, which bears edgewise against the blade. These spring devices are held in place by the screws 69, which confine the legs against the end of the cylinder, and the legs straddle over the end portions of the aforementioned inner blades 58, which protrude beyond the end of the cylinder and have the notches 70 therein, in each of which engages the flange 72 of the adjusting-screw 73. By turning the screw the blade 58 will be so endwise moved as to have the normal base for the movable severing-blade properly as required for its most advantageous coaction with itsv fellow severing-blade of the cylinder.

1 Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip .and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods arranged in advance of and in lines right-an g ular to the axes of the scoring-wheels, an edge-turning device and a IIO V-shaped deflector, arranged upwardly and forwardly inclining, between the scoringwheels and said paired rods, said deflector being bodily vertically adjustable, and means in advance of said rods, for forwardly drawing the strip.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods arranged in advance of and in lines right-angular to the axes of the scoring-wheels, an edge-turning device and a V-shaped deflector, arranged upwardly and forwardly inclining, between the scoringwheels and said paired rods, said deflector being adjustable so as to be swung to vary its inclination, and means in advance of said rods, for forwardly drawing the strip.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip, and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods arranged in advance of and in lines right-angular to the axes of the scoring-wheels, an edge-turning device and a \l-shaped deflector arranged upwardly and forwardly inclining between the scoringwheels and said paired rods, and mounted on a bar which is both vertically bodily adjustable and rotationally adjustable, and means for confining it in its adjustments, and means in advance of said rods for forwardly drawing the strip.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods arranged in advance of and in lines right-angular to the axes of the scoring-wheels, an edge-tn rnin g device and a \l-shaped deflector between the scoringwheels and said paired rods, a pair of rolls in advance of said rods, for forwardly drawing the strip, and a flattening device for the tubular-formed stock between the said rods and said rolls, and arranged right-angularly to the lengths of said rods.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods 25, 25, arranged in advance of and in lines right-angular to the axes ofthe scoring-wheels, an edge-turning device and a V-shaped deflector, arranged upwardly and fowardly inclining, between the scoringwheels and said paired rods, a pair of rolls in advance of said rods for forwardly drawing the strip, and a device consisting of the bar 0 and the separated rod 0 supported thereby and united thereto, between the said paired rods 25 and said rolls.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly separated rods 25, 25, arranged in advance of and in lines right-angular to the axes of the scoring-wheels, an edge-turning device and a deflector between the scoring-wheels and said paired rods, a pair of rolls in advance of said rods for forwardly drawing the strip, and a gage-guide between said rods 25, 25, and said rolls, consisting of the transverselyarranged slotted bar having the adjustablyconfined collars surrounding slotted portions ofthe bar.

v 7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the wheels for longitudinally scoring the strip and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods 25, 25, arranged in advance of and in lines right-angular to the axes of the scoring-wheels, an edge-turning device and a deflector between the scoring-wheels and said paired rods, a pair of rolls in advance of said rods for forwardly drawing the strip, a gage-guide between said rods 25, 25, and said rolls, consisting of the transversely-arranged slotted bar having the adjustably-confined collars surrounding slotted portions of the bar, and a flattening device adjacent the said gage-guide consisting of the rotationally adjustable bar 0 having the parallel separated rod 0 supported thereby, substantially as described.

8. I11 a machine of the character described, the combination with means for longitudinally scoring the strip, and means for marginally pasting same, of a pair of parallel slightly-separated rods 25, 25, arranged in advance of and at right angles to the plane of scoring, an edge-turning device, and a defiector between the scoring-wheels and said paired rods, a pair of rolls in advance of said rods, for forwardly drawing the strip, and between the said rods 25 and said rolls, devices viz: the U-shaped guides at n, the flattening device consisting of rotationally-adjustable bar 0 and parallel separating-rod 0 and the gage-guide consisting of the rotationally-adjustable slotted bar p having the adjustably-conflned collars surrounding the slotted portion of said bar.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of cylinders both having deep longitudinal slots with inclined bases, of encircling cam-ribs adjacent, and separate from, the ends of the cylinders, and severing-blades having inner inclined edges, located in the slots and bodily revoluhle with the cylinders, and provided with notches which engage said cam-ribs, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In amachine ofthe character described, the combination with a pair of cylinders both having deep longitudinal slots with inclined bases, of encircling cam-ribs adjacent, and separate from, the ends of the cylinders, cutting-blades having inner inclined edges, located in the slots and bodily revoluble with the cylinders, and provided with notches which engage said cam-ribs, and springs supported on the cylinders and bearing radially inwardly against end portions of the severingblades.

IIO

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of cylinders both having deep longitudinal slots, plates having inclined edges located in the bases of said slots, and means for adjustably moving said plates endwise, of encircling cam-ribs adjacent, and separate from, the ends of the cylinders, and severing-blades having inner inclined edges, located in the slots and bodily revoluble with the cylinders, and provided with notches which engage said cam-ribs, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of cylinders both having deep longitudinal slots, plates having inclined edges located in the bases of said slots, and having end portions thereof notched and protruding beyond the ends of the cylinders, of encircling cam-ribs, adjacent, and

ering-blades having inner inclined edges, located in the slots and bodily revoluble with the cylinders, and provided with notches which engage said cam-ribs, devices comprising legs which straddle the protruding ends of the inclined plates, and are secured to the ends of the cylinders, and which have springtongues bearing radially inwardly on the end portions of the severing-blades, and the screws threading into the ends of the cylinders and provided with flanges which engage in the notches of said protruding plates, for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, this 4th day of September, 1901.

CI'IAUNOEY w. GAY.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLoWs, M. A. CAMPBELL. 

